Japanese shipping giant NYK said Tuesday it signed long-term contracts with a unit of compatriot Mitsubishi to charter three newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

The vessels will be chartered to Singapore-based Diamond Gas International.

NYK previously concluded long-term time-charter deals for three new LNG vessels for Mitsubishi’s Cameron LNG project in the US, so these new contracts bring the total to six carriers.

NYK will be responsible for ship management for the three 174,000-cbm LNG carriers ordered at South Korea’s Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.

The first LNG carrier, scheduled to be delivered in 2020, will transport LNG from the U.S. state of Louisiana for the Cameron LNG project for about 18 years, as well as from other locations around the world. according to NYK. NYK and Mitsubishi both have a stake in the Sempra Energy-operated Cameron LNG export project.

The other two LNG carriers are scheduled to be delivered in 2021 and will transport LNG from the Shell-led LNG Canada project in British Columbia for some 17 years, as well as from other locations around the world. Mitsubishi has also a stake in the LNG Canada project.

All of the three LNG carriers will be equipped with a WinGD-made dual-fuel slow-speed diesel engine (X-DF diesel engine) that can operate on marine gas oil or boil off gas stored in the cargo tank.

The LNG carriers will also feature a re-liquefaction system that is able to use surplus boil-off gas “effectively” and will be equipped with the GTT Mark III flex cargo containment system.

LNG World News Staff